‘I understand, Susanna, but I’m not asking you to betray your client’s confidence. I’m merely asking you to help me find her. Melissa Haynes is in trouble. She’s either in danger herself, or represents a significant danger to others.’

Susanna stirred uncomfortably, and Nicky wasn’t sure if it was because the psychotherapist had her doubts about Nicky’s assessment, or it confirmed some pre-existing suspicion.

‘May I ask how long you’ve been seeing Melissa?’ Nicky asked.

Susanna appeared to consider this for a moment. ‘About six months, on and off.’

‘On and off?’

Again Susanna left a slight pause. ‘Melissa isn’t a full-time resident at Shining Light. A companion, they’re called. She typically stays at the shelter for days, sometimes weeks, at a time. While she’s there, she’s permitted – encouraged, even – to make use of the charity’s resources.’

‘Including the service you offer? I believe you even have your own office at the shelter, is that right?’

‘That’s correct.’

It was clear Susanna was going to weigh each answer she provided very carefully, and limit her responses to conveying only as much information as was strictly necessary.

‘How many sessions have you had with Melissa?’

‘I would have to check my notes, but I would estimate … nine or ten? A dozen at the very most.’

‘And have they been productive, would you say? I’m not asking you to betray Melissa’s trust,’ Nicky added quickly, when she saw the expression that was forming on Susanna’s face. ‘But she is in trouble, as I said. Very real trouble. I’m simply asking you for information that will help me to ensure her safety.’

The psychotherapist appeared to wrestle with herself internally. ‘It took Melissa some time to fully engage,’ she conceded. ‘I think … I think she has struggled throughout her life with knowing who to trust. Which is entirely understandable given … Well. Given her background.’

Meaning that was as far as Susanna was prepared to go.

‘I realise this is tricky for you, Susanna. But are you able to reveal anything about the sorts of things you discussed with Melissa? The events that you feel were at the root of her troubles, in particular. From what I’ve found out myself, it all started to go wrong for her in her teenage years. Would you agree?’

Now Susanna appeared distinctly uneasy. ‘Detective Sergeant—’ she began, but Nicky held up a hand.

‘Please, Susanna,’ she urged. ‘This really is incredibly important. For Melissa’s sake as much as anyone else’s. We are investigating something that happened at Melissa’s school when she was a pupil there – something we believe she was caught up in – and unless we fully understand what happened back then, we won’t be able to protect her now.’

Once again the psychotherapist seemed to struggle with the ethics of what Nicky was asking her to do.